Council to look at 2nd penny spending

BROOKINGS – The Brookings City Council meeting this Tuesday once again promises to be brief, but students of government might want to be on hand for the council’s pre-meeting work session.

That’s because the chief topic of the study session will be the second-penny sales tax. Councilors and staff will discuss the capital improvement projects the tax funds and will take a look at cash-flow projections for the city for the next five-year period.

The money review is all part of the city’s budget process, which is nearing completion. Aug. 1 is the deadline for presentation of the 2013 budget to council.

During the regular meeting, the council will approve a list of specific city street projects to be placed on the Department of Transportation’s Statewide Transportation Improvement Program.

The 2013 projects, which will be paid for with state and federal funds, include $1 million in blacktopping for a major portion of Main Avenue.

The council will also give first reading to another neighborhood request to change its zoning to Residence R-1C. Hillcrest homeowners have asked the council to limit the number of multi-family dwellings permissible in the area. Council will discuss the request and schedule a public hearing at a future meeting.

Another council action Tuesday will be a hearing on the 2012 sidewalk repair program. Some property owners either did not meet an earlier deadline for their walkways or volunteered to be on the city repair/installation project.

With council approval, the city will proceed with sidewalk assessments for several dozen properties.

The work session begins at 5 p.m. in council chambers in the Brookings City & County Government Center, while the regular meeting gets under way at 6. Both are open to the public.

Council meetings are held on the third floor of the government center, 520 Third St. in downtown Brookings.